Sam Allardyce believes West Ham can be as big as Arsenal if they are given a chance to play at the Olympic Stadium

Sam Allardyce believes West Ham could become as big as Arsenal if they are
given the chance to play at the Olympic Stadium.

Olympic spirit: West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is hoping the feel-good factor of the Olympics will rub off at Upton ParkPhoto: ACTION IMAGES

By Marc Isaacs

10:50PM BST 16 Aug 2012

TheWest Ham manager was taken aback by the atmosphere that was created at the 2012 Olympics and insisted he would love the chance to lead out the club at the new venue.

Allardyce is now regretting his decision to take the squad on pre-season tours to Germany and Portugal and would have loved the opportunity to attend some of the events that were taking place just down the road from where he lives in London.

West Ham face competition from three other groups, including Leyton Orient, and are waiting for the London Legacy Development Corporation to assess all the bids before any negotiations begin.

The £486 million stadium will be reduced from its 80,000 capacity to 60,000 once the Paralympics are finished, but Allardyce sees no reason why they cannot become one of the biggest clubs in the country if they are given a chance to relocate there.

Allardyce said: “When you feel the atmosphere created in that arena, then you dream about walking out there like you did about walking out at Wembley when you were a kid.

“Players look forward to playing at Old Trafford and the Emirates. We could be that size in that stadium, with that atmosphere.

“It would be awesome to walk a team out on that pitch and say, 'This is West Ham’s new home and the creation of a new modern-day history for the club’.

“I hope the euphoria spills over into Upton Park and we can deliver as good entertainment to West Ham fans as the Olympic Games delivered because the feel-good factor in London has been outstanding.”

Meanwhile, Allardyce revealed he was still interested in signing Wolves winger Matt Jarvis and hoped a deal could be finalised before the end of this month.

West Ham have already had one bid of £6.5 million, plus £3 million in add-ons, rejected and they are now deciding if they will go back with an improved offer.

It is believed that Wolves are holding out for £10 million and with both Fulham and Stoke also interested in signing the England winger, the Midlands club are determined to get the best price.

Allardyce admits his squad lack numbers as they look forward to life back in the Premier League and says he is targeting at least three more players who can go straight into his starting line-up.

The West Ham manager is keen to sign another winger, striker and central defender and feels Jarvis would be an excellent addition to the squad.

When asked what the latest was regarding a move for the Wolves winger, Allardyce added: “It is stuck – that’s the answer. I don’t know how that will pan out now.

“We have got to try to agree something with Wolves first. That is the issue we have at the moment and making sure we can satisfy what Wolves demands are.”

West Ham midfielder Jack Collison has been ruled out of the start of the season with a knee injury and could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines. But new signing James Collins is expected to overcome a groin injury and face his former club Aston Villa on Saturday.